One Man's Meat is Another Man's Posion 各有所愛
People become quite illogical when they try to decide what can be eaten and what cannot be eaten. If you lived in the Mediterranean, for instance, you would consider octopus a great delicacy. You would not be able to understand why some people find it repulsive. On the other hand, your stomach would turn at the idea of frying potatoes in animal fat–the normally accepted practice in many northern countries. The sad truth is that most of us have been brought up to eat certain foods and we stick to them all our lives.
No creature has received more praise and abuse than the common garden snail. Cooked in wine, snails are a great luxury in various parts of the world. There are countless people who, ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with food. My friend, Robert, lives in a country where snails are despised. As his flat is in a large town, he has no garden of his own. For years he has been asking me to collect snails from my garden and take them to him. The idea never appealed to me very much, but one day, after a heavy shower, I happened to be walking in my garden when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of my prize plants. Acting on a sudden impulse, I collected several dozen, put them in a paper bag, and took them to Robert. Robert was delighted to see me and equally pleased with my little gift. I left the bag in the hall and Robert and I went into the living room where we talked for a couple of hours. I had forgotten all about the snails when Robert suddenly said that I must stay to dinner. Snails would, of course, be the main dish. I did not fancy the idea and I reluctantly followed Robert out of the room. To our dismay, we saw that there were snails everywhere: they had escaped from the paper bag and had taken complete possession of the hall! I have never been able to look at a snail since then.
10. As his flat is in a large town, he has no garden of his own.
他住在大城市里的一所公寓里,沒有自己的花園。
語言點1:句子結構分析:as引導原因狀語從句,說明“沒有花園”的原因。
語言點2:從本句的用詞flat可以大膽推測,這篇文章的作者是英國人,因為flat是英式英語。
11. For years he has been asking me to collect snails from my garden and take them to him.
多年來,他一直讓我把我園子里的蝸牛收集起來給他捎去。
語言點:句子結構分析:for years與現狀完成進行時has been asking形成時間狀語與時態上的呼應關系。
12. The idea never appealed to me very much, but one day, after a heavy shower, I happened to be walking in my garden when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of my prize plants.
一開始,他的這一想法沒有引起我多大興趣。后來有一天,一場大雨后,我在花園里漫無目的散步,突然注意到許許多多蝸牛在我的一些心愛的花木上慢悠悠的蠕動著。
語言點1:句子結構分析:when引導時間狀語從句,說明“散步時發生了什么”。
語言點2:notice…taking a stroll即notice…doing sth.的結構,特別強調蝸牛正在植物上不緊不慢的爬著,這是多么形象的描寫。